Inhibitory effects of c9, t11-conjugated linoleic acid on invasion of human gastric carcinoma cell line SGC-7901

AIM: To investigate the effect of c9,t11-conjugated linoleic acid (c9,t11-CLA) on the invasion of human gastric carcinoma cell line and its possible mechanism of preventing metastasis. METHODS: Using reconstituted basement membrane invasion, chemotaxis, adhesion, PAGE substrate zymography and RT-PCR assays, we analyzed the abilities of invasion, direct migration, adhesion of intracellular matrix, as well as the activity of type IV collagenase and expression of tissue inhibitor of metalloproteinase (TIMP)-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA in SGC-7901 cells which were treated with gradually increased concentrations (25, 50, 100 and 200 μmol/L) of c9,t11-CLA for 24 h. RESULTS: At the concentrations of 200 μmol/L, 100 μmol/L and 50 μmol/L, c9,t11-CLA suppressed the invasion of SGC-7901 cells into the reconstituted basement membrane by 53.7%, 40.9% and 29.3%, respectively, in comparison with the negative control. Only in the 200 μmol/L c9,t11-CLA group, the chemotaxis of SGC-7901 cells was inhibited by 16.0% in comparision with the negative control. C9,t11-CLA also could inhibit the adhesion of SGC-7901 cells to laminin, fibronectin and Matrigel, increase the expression of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA, and reduce type IV collagenase activities in the serum-free medium supernatant of SGC-7901 cells. CONCLUSION: c9,t11-CLA can inhibit the invasion of SGC-7901 cells at multiple procedures in tumor metastasis cascade, which may be associated with the induction of TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 mRNA expression.